Feed mechanism for match-packing machines.



J. c. DONNELLY. FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH PACKING MACHLNES.

APPLICATIQN FILED APR. 28. I914.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

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wawN MM TTOP/Vff m: Mmh'ls puns m. PHOTO-DDR1. WISNINU mm a c J. C.DONNELLY.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH PACKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28'. 1914.

1,206,823. Patented Dec. 5,1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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J. C. DONNELLY.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH PACKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MR. 28 19M- Patnted Dec. 5, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. C. DONNELLY.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH PACKING MACHINES.

Patentedmc. 5,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1914.

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J. C. DONNELLY. FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH PACKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28.1914- Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- IIV VE/V T05 Joseph Qfionnally,

WITNESSES ATTORN J. C. DONNELLY.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH PACKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28 19M.

'III II IIIIIIJ WITNESSES. I

S PTENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. DONNELLY, OF BARBERTON, OI-IIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCHCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MATCH-PACKING MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. DONNELLY, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Barberton, in the countyof Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Feed Mechanism for Match-Packing Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

- This invention relates to feed mechanism for match packing machines,having reference more especially to means whereby matches, as rapidly asthey are discharged from a match making machine, are intercepted andthence conveyed in an orderly manner to a box filling station orstations.

In the form of embodiment of my invention herein illustrated the feedmechanism is associated with a. match packing machine of the characterset out in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,016,436, datedFebruary 6, 1912. In the said patented ma chine the matches aredelivered to the upper or receiving end of an inclined hopper or troughhaving in the bottom of its lower or discharge end two suitably-locatedmeasuring chambers to which the matches are progressively fed bylongitudinal vibration of the trough. Box trays to be filled withmatches are impelled by an intermittentlymovable endless carrier alongtwo parallel paths extending beneath the respective measuring chambersof the trough, and provisions are had whereby the bottoms of thechambers are opened. and closed at predetermined intervals in respect tothe intermittent travel of the train of trays, in order that thecontents of such chambers shall. be deposited into the trays underlyingthe same, each tray being periodically supplied with quantities ofmatches from the respective chambers. Among other things, provisions arehad whereby the box trays are raised and lowered at intervals in respectto the measuring chambers in order to insure the orderly transference ofthe matches to the trays, all as will more fully appear by reference tosaid Letters Patent.

My invention comprises, primarily, a trough or hopper having therein alongitudinallyreciprocating bottom member and relatively fixed stopdevices adjacent thereto, said member being constructed and arranged toengage the opposing matches Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 28, 1914.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 834,905.

within and progressively advance them along the trough, and said stopdevices being disposed in the path of the matches so as to act not onlyto straighten or parallelize them across the trough but also to preventtheir retrograde motion in the back strokes of said member.

My invention also comprises means whereby the matches are positively fedalong the space in the vicinity of and between the measuring chambers ofthe trough.

My invention also comprises means whereby is attained an eflicientjarring of the mass of matches banked at the discharge end of thetrough, in order to cause them to settle down into the measuringchambers .and also to pass freely from said chambers to th underlyingbox trays when the bottoms of the chambers are opened to said trays.

My invention also comprises a reciproeating yielding pressure structurewhich is constructed and arranged to act upon the mass of matches withinthe trough and contribute to their orderly advancement along the same.

My invention also comprises various novel features of construction andoperation, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of match feeding mechanismembodying my invention, only so much of the match making and packingmachines being shown as is necessary to illustrate the relation of thesaid mechanism thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isan ele-' vation, partly in section, of the portion of the feed-trough,and adjuncts, adjacent the match machine. Fig. at is a horizontalsection, as on the line lit of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of the portionof the feed-trough, and adjuncts, adjacent the packing machine. Fig. 6is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a reciprocating pressure structure which is designedto act upon the matches within the feed-trough. Fig. 8 is a longitudinalvertical section through the discharging end of the feed-trough andadjuncts. Fig. 9 is aperspective view of a vibrating rack frame which islocated within the trough in the space between the discharge openings.

the matches.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section through the feed-trough andadjuncts on a plane through the match carrier of the match makingmachine, as on the line 10-1O of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a similar sectionthrough the feed-trough, as on the line 1111 of Fig. 6. Figs. 12 and 13are transverse sections, as on the lines 12-12 and 13-13, respectivelyof Fig. 6.

designates a portion of the match carrier of a match making machine fromwhich carrier the matches are ejected row by row in the usual manner.

21 designates a trough which is arranged in front of the carrier in aposition to receive the matches in parallelism, or sub stantially so, asrapidly as they are ejected. and convey them thence to the box-trays.

In the present instance the trough declines partially from its receivingend toward its discharging end, terminating thereat in a substantiallyhorizontal portion in which are provided in spaced relation to eachother the discharge openings 22, 23 for the matches. These openings arepositioned above the respective parallel paths of the intermittentlymovable tray-carrier of the filling machine and are adapted to delivermeasured quantities of matches to the trays 25 which are borne by thesuccessive links of the carrier. The openings are associated withdepending walls which, in conjunction with the side walls of the trough,constitute measuring chambers for Each of these chambers is equippedwith sliding gates 26, 26 by actuation of which the bottom of thechamber may be opened and closed at predetermined intervals in relationto the intermittent feed of the match trays to be filled, as willhereinafter appear.

The trough in its preferred construction includes two parallel sidewalls 27 adequately separated, as by bottom cross-pieces 29, to affordan interior space slightly greater in width than the length of a match.At the lower portion of the trough is an end wall 28 which is verticallyslotted as at 28' for a purpose hereinafter appearing. The body of thetrough is connected with and supported by a suitable frame structure 30which may be bolted to an adjacent portion of the frame of the matchmaking machine. In the present instance the body is provided at itsupper end with depending lugs 31 which are pivotally connected to abracket on the structure 30 so that such body may be bodily swung up ordown to a limited extent in order to adjust its lower discharge portionvertically in respcct to the portion of the filling machine adjacentthereto. livoted to the body of the trough is .a depending slotted arm33 through the slot of which extends a bolt 34 from a bracket 35 an thesupporting structure, so that by properly turning the nut of the boltthe said arm may be released'to permit vertical adjustment of the troughand may then be clamped to lock the trough in its position ofadjustment.

The ortion of the rearward wall of the trough directly in front of thematch car-- rier is omitted, and inlieu thereof a plate 35 is bolted tothe frame of the match machine, the upper edge of which plate is in ahorizontal plane immediately below the plane of discharge of the matchesfrom the match carrier. ment of the body of the trough does not affectthe position of the upper edge of the plate relative to the plane ofSuch edge is located near the bottom of the trough so as to obviateliability; of the matches becoming awry during their descent. (See Fig.10.)

The bottom'of the trough is constituted in the main by twolongitudinally vibrating match feeding sections of special construction,marked 36 and 37 respectively. The main section 36 extends from theupper or right hand end of the trough adjacent the corresponding edge ofthe match carrier, to a point adjacent the inner discharge opening; andthe other or auxiliary section 37 is located in the space between thetwo openings. (See Fig. 8.) r

The main feeding section 36 is loosely supported on or adjacent thebottom pieces 29 of the trough being provided on its under side withinclined guide arms 38 which are slidingly fitted to correspondinglyinclined guide-extensions 39 on two of the bottom pieces, wherebylongitudinal reciprocation of the section, as hereinafter described,elfects a rising and falling feed movement thereof, that is to say, thesection 36 is raised on its forward stroke toward the discharge openingsof the trough and then is lowered on its rearward or return stroke. Thetop of this feeding section 36 is provided with transverse step-likeportions d0, which constitute, in effect, rack teeth, and the adjacentsides of the trough are provided on their inner walls throughout thelength of the section with stopmembers 41 comprising ledges providedwith similar step-like portions 42. The bottom of the trough, in thespace between its receiving end and the inner discharge opening, thusincludes two lateral series of fixed steps or teeth 42 and anintermediate series of vibratory steps or teeth 40. Hence when thematches are delivered row by row from the match machine to the receivingend of the trough the steps of the vibrating bot.

tom section in its uprising forward stroke act to engage the sides ofthe lowermost matches and feed them progressively along the trough tothe discharge openings, and theadjacent fixed teeth, in the fallingrear- Thus the vertical adjustdischarge. 7

ward stroke of said section, serve as stops to engage the matches neartheir ends and prevent retrograde movement thereof. Thus the matches aremaintainedin parallelism within the trough. It is to be noted that thesteps of the feeding section do not lift the matches above the fixedsteps on which the matches are supported, but simply move to position inrear of the bodies of the opposing matches and push them with a directthrust along the trough. This feature of coordinated feeding and stopteeth is an important one, as thereby is provided a simple and reliablemeans whereby the matches 2' are not only positively fed along thetrough but are kept well undercontrol during their travel. i

It is to be noted that the trough is inclined on account of thedifferent elevations of the discharging and filling stations of thetypes of match and packing machines respectively herein illustrated; andthat the rising and falling motion is imparted to the inclined section36 in order to compensate ,ifor the inclination of its rack-teeth.WVhere,

however, such stations are on the same level, or nearly so, a troughwith a horizontallymounted step-section for feeding the matches may beused, in which case the latter may be given a direct horizontal insteadof a rising and falling motion. It is also to be noted that the toothedmembers 41 instead of being fixed, as above described, may bereciprocated in alternation with the central.

section 36 the juxtaposed teeth thus cooperating to feed the matches andmaintain them in parallelism.

In the present instance the feeding section 36 is longitudinallyvibrated through a link connection 43 with a crank wheel 44 on a shortshaft 45 having its bearings in brackets 46 on the frame structure 30.Fast on this shaft is a friction wheel 47 with the face of whichcontacts a friction driving wheel 48 on a shaft 49 which has itsbearings in brackets 50 also on said structure. The shaft 49 is providedwith a sprocket wheel 51 which is connected by a chain 52 with a drivingsprocket wheel (not shown). The shaft 49 is slidingly mounted in itsbearings so that it may be manually shifted to move thefriction wheel 48into or out of operative contact with the face of the wheel 47. It isobvious that by moving the contacting wheel 48 more or less toward thecenter of the wheel 47, the speed of the latter, and consequently therate of vibration of the feeding section, may be varied. In the presentinstance the shaft 49 is pivotally 1 coupled, as at 53, to a rod 54which extends through suitably-disposed bearing brackets 54 on the frameof the filling machine to a point in front of the latter terminating ina suitable operating handle 55. See Fig. 2.) Any other appropriate meansfor actuating the toothed feeding section may be employed.

The auxiliary section 87, which is stepped or toothed as indicated at 56similarly to the section 36, rests upon the inclined top of a section37, and thus, (similarly to the corre sponding motion of the section36,) is effected a forward feeding of the superposed matches from theinner to the outer discharge opening of the trough.

The auxiliary section 37 is fitted to slide between the spacedlongitudinal side members 60 of a vibrating frame within the lower partof the trough, said members being provided on their upper edges withinclined teeth 61 corresponding .with those 56 of said section, whichteeth 61, similarly to the fixed lateral teeth 42 previously described,are constructed and arranged to engage the opposing matches and preventtheir retrograde movement during the return strokes of the adjacent feedsection 37. This frame is provided with lateral flanges 63 which extendbeneath the adjacent walls of the trough and bear cap-plates 64 whichafford longitudinal guide-ways to receive corresponding gibs 65 on theexterior of said walls. The flanges 63 are longitudinally and verticallyextended at the respective ends of the side members 60, as at 65, so asto embrace the trough, the extensions at the outer end of the framebeing connected by a wall 66 which is slotted, as at 66 to affordclearance for the respective sides of the trough. The ends of themembers 60 adjacent the wall 66 are provided with a. depending wall 67,such walls being in spaced relation to each other to afford, inconjunction with the proximate side walls of the trough, a rectangularmeasuring chamber directly beneath the outer discharge opening 22 of thetrough. The opposite ends of the members 60 are provided with adepending cross wall 68 which is spaced from a similar wall 69 on theadjacent bottom piece 29 of the trough; such walls 68, 69, inconjunction with the intervening side walls of the trough, providing ameasuring chamber beneath the inner discharge opening 23 of the trough.

The depending walls 67 and 68 of the respective measuring chamberspreferably com prise the vertical members of separate angu lar platesthe upper members of which are fitted toslots inthe ends of the toothedmembers 60 and secured therein by screws 70 so as to be adjustabletoward and from the opposite walls of the respective chambers.

The depending wall 69 is preferably formed by the vertical member of anangular plate which is slidingly mounted in the adjacent bottom piece 29for adjustment toward andfrom the opposite wall 68 in order to vary thecapacity of the measuring chamber as occasion may require. Preferablythe horizontal member of the plate is provided with a depending lug 70having a tapped orifice with which is engaged a setscrew 71 rotatablymounted in a lug 7 2 on the adjacent bottom piece of the trough, so thatby properly turning the screw nice adjustment of the angle plate may be.had. (See Figs. 8 and 9.)

The frame is given a short vibratory motion in order to jar thematches'at the lower end of the trough and cause them to settlecompactly within the respective measuring chambers, the walls of saidchambers by their vibration also insuring the discharge of the matchesto the underlying box-trays when the bottoms of the chambers are opened,as hereinafter described.

In the present instance a pneumatic vibrator 73 for the frame isemployed, the piston of said vibrator being connected to an arm 74 on avertical rock-shaft 75 having its bearings in vertically-spaced brackets7 6 on the standard 57. An arm 77 on the upper end of this shaft ispivotally connected to a bar 78 which is attached at its ends to pins 79 fast on laterally projecting brackets 80 on the respective endportions of the frame.

- By regulating the volume of air supplied to the vibrator cylinder, therapidity of the jarring action of the frame can be nicely adjusted asoccasion may require. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) In the present instance alsoeach of the measuring chambers is provided with two gates 26, 26, whichare movable toward and from the median portion of the chamber. The outergate 26 of each chamber is affixed to a slide 81 which is fitted to aguide-way in a reciprocating cam-actuated head 82. This head isslidingly' fitted to ways in a bracket 83 on the frame of the fillingmachine, and is coupled by means of a link 84 to a rock lever 85 whichis connected with and timely actuated by acam (not shown) of the fillingmachine as set out in Patent No. 1,016,436 aforesaid. The slide 81 isrecessed on its under side for the reception of a retracting spring 86one end of which bears against the slide and the other end against a pin87 on the head. Thus the gate 26 has capacity for independent yieldingmovement as it is moved into the measuring chamber, and in consequenceany liability of crushing or jamming opposing misplaced matches whichmay be sticking up in the underlying box tray isobviated. (See Fig. 8Each of the gates 26 is connectedat its outer end by means of alaterally-extending plate 88 with a slide-block 89 which is looselyfitted on the shifting rod 54. V V e The inner gate 26 of each of themeasuring chambers'is bifurcated to embrace the adjacent portion of thestandard 57, one of the limbs of the gate being slidingly supported on alateral extension of the standard by a screw and slot connection 90.(Figs. 8, 12 and 18.) The other limb of the gate 26 is attached to one(91) of the parts of a two-part slide-block which is loosely fitted onthe rod 54. The parts 91, 91 of the block are connected by a retractingspring 98 so. as to have capacity for y elding longitudinal movementrelative to each other, on the rod 54. The part 91 of the slide-blockfor the gate .26 of one chamber is rigidly connected by means of a rod92 with the camactuated slide-block 89 for the outer gate26 of the otherchamber. Hence both gates of each chamber are actuated simultaneously,either to open or to close the chamber; the respective gates 26, byvirtue of the spring connection of the block parts 91,91 having capacityfor independent yielding movement, similarly'to the gates 26, as saidgates 26 are being moved into closing position.

Preferably the teeth of the ledges 41, of the match feeding sections 36,37 and of the vibratory frame structure, respectively are slightlyinclined downwardly from the inner to the outer side of the trough, asshown most clearly in Figs. 10 to 18, inclusive, so as to compensate forthe headed ends of the matches and insure a substantial level of thecontained mass along the trough when the trough is well supplied withmatches.

In order to avoid any liability of the matches piling above andoverflowing the sides of the trough, I preferably provide a specialfeeding structure which is constructed and arranged to bear yieldinglyupon the contained matches and assist them in their travel along thetrough. This structure is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 Itincludes a rod 94 which extends longitudinally of the trough, in theleft-hand portion of the latter, the lower edge of the rod beingpreferably serrated or toothed as at 95, to engage the mass ofunderlying matches and its outer extremity being bent upwardly, as at96, to provide a convenient handle portion to facilitate the manualraising of the rod if desired. The opposite end of this rod is pivotedto an eccentric or crank disk 97 on a stud shaft 98 which has itsbearing in a bracket 99 on one side of the trough. This shaft bears apulley 100 which is connected by means of a belt 101 with a suitabledriving pulley (not shown).- Thus the rod 94 is longitudinallyreciprocated. Secured to the said rod at intervals, are overlappinlooped wire-frames 102 the free ends of which depend below the rod so asto act as yielding feed-pawls upon the opposing mass of matches duringthe forward stroke of the rod, and thus grasp and hold down substantialquantities of matches and assist in feed ing them toward the dischargeportion of the trough- An additional looped wire frame 103 is secured tothe rod, so as to extend through the vertical slots 28 in the end wallof the trough, and thus yieldingly bear upon the underlying matches inthe vicinity of the measuring chambers. To lift the rod and its springfeed-pawls 102 above the matches, during the back stroke of the rod, andthus avoid disturbance of the matches, the rod is provided near itsouter end with an upright bracket 104 bearing an anti-friction roller105 which rests upon one arm of a rock-lever 106 which has a pivotalpinand-slot connection 107 with a bracket 108 on one side of the trough.The other arm of the lever is eccentrically connected, as at 109, withthe pulley 100, and is thereby longitudinally reciprocated andvertically oscillated; the respective crank connections for the rod andlever being so positioned relative to each other that. the free arm ofthe lever is lowered during the forward %roke of the feed-rod 94 and israised during the rearward stroke of the latter.

As described in Patent No. 1,016,436 aforesaid, the box trays are raisedand lowered when they are beneath and in the vicinity of the measuringchambers, the contents of the trays as the latter leave the respectivechambers being subjected to the action of suitable leveling ordistributing plates 110, 111, respectively. In the present instance theplate 110 is slidingly supported, so as to be vertically movable, on abracket 112 which is affixed to an adjacent end. extension of thevibrating frame, and the plate 111 is secured to a bracket 113 which isaffixed to an adjacent extension at the opposite end of said frame.

By the above-described mechanism it will be seen that the matches arepunched directly from the match machine into the trough and that thereceiving end of the trough may be kept supplied with matches I to ornear to the horizontal plane of the ejecting punches. This insures anorderly disposition of the matches within the trough at the outset,which is the critical period. The matches thus deposited in the troughare not only positively fed along the trough with an easy motion to thefilling stations but they are kept straight during their entire travel,and this whether the trough be in a horizontal plane or inclinedthereto.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specificstructural features shown and described, as the same may be modifiedwithout departure from the principle of the invention.

What I claim is 1. In match-feeding mechanism, an elongated trough toone end of which the matches are delivered in mass, said troughcomprising a body, a vibratory bottom section therefor having transverserack teeth or projections arranged to engage the lowermost-matches andprogressively feed them with a direct thrust longitudinally of thetrough, and stop devices adjacent said section to engage the matches andprevent their retrograde movement during the operation of said section.

2. In match-feeding mechanism, an elongated trough to one end of whichthe matches are delivered in mass, said trough comprising a body andjuxtaposed longitudinal bottom members having rack teeth transverselythereof, in combination with means for effecting longitudinal movementof said members relatively to each other and progressively impelling thelowermost matches with a direct thrust longitudinally of the trough.

3. In match-feeding mechanism, an elongated trough to one end of whichthe matches are delivered in mass, said trough comprising a body andjuxtaposed longitudinal bottom members having rack teeth transverselythereof, one of said members being longitudinally movable, and theothers stationary, in combination 'with means for vibrating said movablemember whereby its teeth engage the lowermost matches and progressivelyimpel them with a direct thrust longitudinally of the trough.

4:. In match-feeding mechanism, an elongated trough to one end of whichthe matches are delivered in mass, said trough comprising a body andjuxtaposed longitudinal bottom members having 'rack teeth transverselythereof, two of said members being stationary and the middle memberbeing longitudinally movable, in combination with means for vibratingsaid movable member whereby its teeth engage the lowermost matches andprogressively impel them with a direct thrust longitudinally of thetrough.

5. In mechanism of the character described, a match-feeding trougharranged alongside of the discharge end of a match machine, and intowhich the matches are discharged in rows directly from the matchmachine, a longitudinally reciprocating bottom section for said trough,having on its upper surface transverse rack teeth arranged to engage thelowermost matches and progressively feed them with a direct thrustlongitudinally of the trough, means for vibrating said section, and stopdevices within the trough and adjacent said section to preventretrograde movement of the matches during the operation of said bottomsection.

6. In mechanism of the character de scribed, a match-feeding trougharranged alongside of the discharge end of amatch machine, and to whichthe matches are discharged in rows directly from the match .machine andextending thence away from the match machine, and having dischargeopenings in the bottom of such extended portion, a longitudinallyreciprocating bottom section for said trough having on its upper surfacetransverse rack teeth arranged to engage the lowermost matches andprogressively feed them with a direct thrust longitudinally of thetrough, means for vibrating said bottom section, stop devices within thetrough and adjacent said section to prevent retrograde movement of thematches during the operation of said bottom section, and means forfeeding box trays beneath said extension to receiveithe matches from therespective openings.

- 7.. In match-feeding me'chanism, an elongated trough to one end ofwhich the matches are delivered in mass, comprising a body, a vibratorybottom section for said body having transverse rack teeth orprojections, means for longitudinally vibrating said section andimparting thereto rising and falling motions during its forward andreturn strokes respectively, whereby the said teeth or pro ectlons arecaused to engage the lowermost matches and I feed them with a directthrust longitudinally of the trough, and stop devices adjacent saidsection to engage the matches and prevent their retrograde movementduring the return strokes of the bottom section.

8. In mechanism of the character described, a' trough provided in itsbottom with discharge openings in spaced relation to each other, andvibratory feed devices located in such bottom in the space between saidopenings, said devices being movable longitudinally and independently ofthe body of the trough.

9. In mechanism of the character described, a trough. provided in itsbottom with discharge openings in spaced relation to each other, meansfor feeding matches along the trough to said openings, a vibratingfeeding section located in such bottom in the, space between saidopenings, said section being movable longitudinally and independentlyof-the body of the trough, and a jarring memberadj acent said lattersection and movable longitudinally and independently thereof.

10. In mechanism of the character de-' scribed, a trough provided withdischarge openings in spaced relationto each other, meansforfeedingmatches along the trough to. said openings, and match-jarring means 1adjacent said openings, said jarring means being operativelongitudinally and indesaid trough pendently of the trough and alsoindependently of the said feeding means.

- 11.. In mechanism of the character described,a trough provided withdischarge openings in spaced relation to each other,

means for feeding matches along the trough to the said openings, avibrating bottom section between said openings having transverse rackteeth arranged to engage the matches and progressively feed them, and

stop devicesadjacent said section to engage the matches and preventtheir retrograde openingsin spaced relation to each other, a

vibrating feed section having transverse rack teeth. arranged to engagethe matches and progressively feed them, an independently vibratingsection'having corresponding teeth, and means forvibrating said lattersection within a shorter range than the former section.

13. In mechanism, of the character described, the combination with afeed-trough, of a match-racking bar overhanging the same longitudinallythereof, a series of overs lapping spring-pawl members connected withsaid bar and depending successively therefrom, a spring pressure membersecured to said bar and extending horizontallyforwardof saidpawlmembers, and means for longitudinally reciprocating said bar and itsattached spring members.

14. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with afeed-trough, of a match-racking bar overhanging the same longitudinallythereof, a series of overlapping spring-pawl members connected with saidbar and depending successively therefrom, a spring pressure membersecured to said bar and extending horizontally forward of saidpawl'members, means for longitudinally reciprocating said bar and itsattached spring members, and means for raising said bar and membersduringtheir return or inactive stroke and for permitting their descentduring their succeeding stroke.

15. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with atrough provided with discharge openings, of reciprocable gates fortherespective openings, a reciprocable supporting member for one of saidgates,- a spring-controlled sliding connection between said latter gateand its supporting member, a supporting member for the other gate, and arigid connection between said latter supporting member and the saidspring-controlled connection.

'16. In mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination. with atrough provided with discharge openings, of oppositely-movable cut-01fgates for each of said openings, connections between the correspondinggates of the respective openings, means for positively retracting thesaid gates from the openings and means, including spring connections,for returning said gates to close the openings.

17. In mechanism of the character described, 21. match-feeding trougharranged alongside of the discharge end of a match machine, and intowhich the matches are discharged directly from the match machine, aportion of the side wall of said trough adjacent the match machine beingopen, means for adjustably supporting the trough adjacent the matchmachine, and a relativelystationary wall between the open side portionof the trough and the match machine.

Signed at Barberton, in the county of Summit, and State of Ohio, this23rd day of April, A. D. 1914.

JOSEPH O. DONNELLY.

Witnesses:

V. H. JOHNSTON, SABINA PARKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

